In August, the library will present the following adult programs. We appreciate registration at our programs to help us plan how many to expect. Register by calling the library (527-4360) or stopping by the front desk.

- Tuesday, August 8th at 6:30 pm​ Sara Reid, local professional newborn baby photographer will teach a DSLR Beginner's Camera Course at the library. DSLR stands for Digital Single-Lens Reflex, it is a type of camera. Anyone is welcome to come learn about the basics of photography but if you would like her help with your DSLR camera please remember to bring the following items: your DSLR camera, the lenses you want to use, your memory SD card, and pen and paper to take notes.

- Thursday, August 17th at 6 pm​ Kay Henrichs, McLean County Master Gardener and monarch butterfly enthusiast will be at the library to talk about monarch butterflies, how they are endangered, and what we can do to help them. We will also tour the library's butterfly garden with Woodford County Master Gardener and fellow librarian, Karel Kaufman.

I am not criticizing my science teachers with this post, it may have been my attention span as a kid that made science seem rather mysterious and confusing. Our speaker this last Tuesday (July 25th), Thomas Willmitch, the director of the ISU Planetarium and NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador was able to take concepts that seem rather difficult to me personally and explain them in a way that made sense. We watched a PBS Space Time video that gave a good overview of the upcoming total solar eclipse. Mr. Willmitch walked us through many of the key parts that we needed to understand about the eclipse and he was able to explain in a very understandable way. He mentioned software called NASA's Eyes (Eyes on the Eclipse) that he would recommend for educators and others interested in learning more about the eclipse. We also talked quite a bit about the path of the eclipse and the time that the eclipse will be able to be seen in El Paso. We also talked about how to view the eclipse safely and how to make a pinhole camera.Mr. Willmitch also mentioned an event going on this Saturday at Funk's Grove with the Twin City Astronomers.We had three raffle ticket winners! The first two won Astronaut Ice Cream and the last one won a mushroom space-themed candle. Mr. Willmitch also graciously gave the winners free glasses to view the solar eclipse.

Tonight at 6 pm in the library, Thomas Willmitch will be here representing the NASA JPL Solar System Ambassadors Program. He will be talking about the upcoming solar eclipse and how we can safely view it. If you did not register, that is okay you can still come. We like to have registration so that we will know how many to expect from a minimum standpoint. Mr. Willmitch is bringing a limited number of solar eclipse glasses with him and we may give priority on buying those to people who have already registered.

Many writers write books in series involving the same characters or families or locations. How can you figure out the next book in a series?

Here at the library we use a database called the KDL What's Next Database, see http://ww2.kdl.org/libcat/whatsnext.asp

The other way we try to help patrons identify books in a series is by using the call number sticker along with a colored sticker. So, for instance if you want to find the next book in a Nora Roberts series, look on the shelf for the colored stickers that match the ones on the book that you have already read. We try to start off each author without a colored sticker and then in suceeding series we put a colored sticker on the book. In the case of Nora Roberts, she has written so many series that we have had to use two colored stickers to identify the series. We also put the book number on the call number sticker.

Maybe an example will help to understand:

If you want to find the next book in the Three Sister Triology by Nora Roberts, notice the stickers on the spine:

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If you look at the shelf for FIC ROB, you can see there are lots of series. Find the one that matches the blue on top, red on bottom series color code and then you will see which book is next.

We wanted to remind people to sign up for our solar eclipse presentation next week. It is on Tuesday, July 25th at 6 pm. Thomas Willmitch of the NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador Program will be at the library to talk about the eclipse and how you can safely view it. He will bring a limited number of solar eclipse glasses that can be purchased to view the eclipse also. It will be first-come, first-served on those.

I wanted to take this time to endorse the ISU Planetarium, also. My husband and I recently attend the 'Sunstruck' show last Friday evening. It was quite informative and fun! You can also visit the Planetarium gift shop when the planetarium is open to the public. For more information, see the ISU Planetarium website at http://www2.phy.ilstu.edu/~trw/planetfiles/public.html. I don't think you will find anything more reasonably priced for a family!

Remember to sign up for the food allergy discussion that our patron, Cathy Greene, is presenting next Tuesday (July 18th) at 6 pm at the El Paso District Library! Cathy has co-written a book with her nephew, titled Just Like You. They wrote the book to let everyone know that kids with food allergies are really, just like you. Cathy will also be discussing food allergy issues.

​We would love to have a good turn-out for Cathy. Please sign up for this event!

​Crochet Club is also on Tuesday, July 18th at 6 pm. Come crochet while you listen to Cathy's presentation and then the club will meet afterwards.

​Also, Gail's last day is Thursday, July 20th. She will be here from 3 pm to 6 pm on that day. Please come in and sign her retirement book if you have not already done so.

We didn't get very many sign-ups for our Tuesday events so I thought I would send this once again - I really hate for a presenter to come to our library and not have an audience!

Tuesday, July 11th at 6 PM - Mike Hartzler of the Corn Belt Carving Club will give a presentation on woodcarving. If enough people are interested, he is willing to come back to the library at another time with a project that we can work on. Another library had him come and make stamps like people use for ink stamping crafts.

Tuesday, July 18th at 6 PM - Local patron Cathy Greene will be here to talk about the book she wrote with her nephew, called 'Just Like You'. She will also discuss food allergy issues. This presentation is aimed mostly at adults.

Tuesday, July 25th at 6 PM - Thomas Willmitch will be here as part of the NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador Program to talk about the upcoming eclipse (on August 21st) and how we can safely view it. Mr. Willmitch is the director of the ISU Planetarium. The whole family can come to this presentation!

All the events are free!

And another reminder that Gail's last day is Thursday, July 20th. Please come and sign her retirement book. Gail does many things at the library but one unique task is the inter-library loans on the OCLC system. So if you have ordered a book that no other library in our system has but you have still gotten it, it was probably due to Gail finding it for you.